Recently the Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer was released. Through surveys this tries to measure the level of trust in societies. It has run for several years worldwide. While in 2024 the survey still measured a neutral level of trust, in 2025 the survey showed that overall there was a level of distrust in New Zealand. More people distrust their leaders than trust them. This distrust is particularly directed towards government and the media, but many people also do not trust other leaders and institutions. The highest level of trust is still in the health services, while people generally do not trust social media.

Most people hold some grievance, that is they feel that they are taken advantage of, are not taken seriously and are not being listened to. Somewhat worryingly, most people also think that future generations will not have it better than them, but rather that those generations will face a more negative future. This does not paint a hopeful picture. However, that is not to say that this bleak assessment of the world is wholly inaccurate and just a matter of attitude. After all, even more so than before, it seems that fewer people have a say in key developments. Money seems to buy influence and power. The world is more divided and complex than in previous times.

The report did not specifically consider churches. However, Non-governmental organisations were somewhat more trusted than the government or media, but less than businesses. Clearly, there have been events that made churches less trustworthy, in particular the various abuse scandals. I wonder what could make churches more trustworthy. I think it is important that the people in church live out a genuine faith. But it is also important that the institutions are seen as responsive and listening, certainly not overbearing or protective of their own interests. General respect for everyone needs to be shown. That means adequate transparency at local, diocesan, national and international level. It means not hiding things. And yet, it also means that people should be able to trust their problems and concerns to the church with confidentiality.

Trust also needs to be built in our parishes. I an age of distrust it is probably more important than ever that the local churches are trustworthy.